Animal trap



Patented Feb. 14, 1928.

1,659,465 ICE.

WALTER A. GIBBS, OF HOLLY OAK, DELAWABE.

ANIMAL TBA?.

Application filed March 22, 1924. Serial No. ?01,148.

i the latte-r have taken eflect.

The invention relates more particularly to that class of traps of the multiple jaw type having a common releasing means for the respective sets of jaws, and more specifically, the object of the invention is to provide means assuring that one set of jaws will take efect before a second set of jaws is actuated.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the action of one set of jaws may be delayed until a second set of j aws has reached any predetermined point in their closing movement.

In the attached drawings:

Figure 1 illustrates a trap made in accordance with my invention in which both primary and secondary sets of jaws are shown in the retracted or open position;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2, Fig. 1, and

Fg. 3 is a lan view of the trap showing the one set o jaws, which I will designate the primar-y, approaching the position in which the actuating means for the secondary jaws is about to be rendered effective.

In thistrap, it is desirable that the primary jaws be fully closed upon the object to be caught before the secondary jaws are actuated, since otherwise the foot or other part of the animal which by contact with the trap mechanism releasing the jaws may otherwise be thrown clear of the primary jaws by the .secondary jaws before the former have approached sutficiently close together 'to take hold.

In the present invention, I provide means whereby actuation of the secondary jaws may be delayed, following operation ot the jaw-releasing means, until the primary jaws have taken hold, thereby positively preventing the escape of the animal in the aforedescribed manner. i

With reference to the drawings, my trap may in one form comprise a substantially cross-shaped frame or base 1 upon which are mounted at right angles the sets of primary jaws 9 2, and secondary jaws 3, 3.

- known form by The prinary jaws 2, 2, which are both mov- I able, are actuated through a lever 4 of well coiled springs 5, 5, suitably supported on the frame. Of the secondary jawsB, 3, the one designated by the reference numeral G is fixed to the frame and is not movable'with respectthereto, the other of the jaws 3 being pivotally mounted upon a cross rod 7 whose extremties are secured in the opposite sides of the said jaw 6, and which also constitutes a support for the coiled springs 5, 5. The latter in addition to actuating the lever &and the primar-y jaws 2, 2, also are employed to actuate the movable jaw of the secondary set, the outer ends of the said springs 5, 5, resting in back of a pair of lugs 8, 8. on the said movable secondary jaw. Both the primary and secondary jaws are maintained in the open or set position by means of a latch 9 pivotally mounted on the base 1, which latch after passing over the movable one of the secondary jaws and one of the jaws 2, 2, of the primary set, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, is adapted to have its end inserted beneath the edge' of a treadle 11, as clearly shown in Fig 1, whereby until the sai d treadle is depressed, the said jaws are maintained in open position.

In so far as described, the trap is a well known one and its Construction well understood in the art.

It is apparent that depression of the treadle 11 and release of the latch 9 will cause a simultaneous actuation of the primary and, secondary jaws. In order to retard the actuation of the secondary jaws a snfiicient length of time after the jaws are released `by depression of the treadle 11 to permit the primary j aws to take efleet, I provide a second latch 12 which is pivotally secured to the base 1 and which is adapted to overlie the movable one of the secondary jaws, as shown `in both Figures 1 and 3, and which is provided with a forked end 13 which underlies the respective jaws 2, 2, of the primary set; When, therefore, the jaws are in the open or set position, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the latch 9 restrans the primary jaws 2, 2, while the secondary jaws are restrained through the primary ja-ws by the latch`12. The forks 13, 13, of the latch 12 may be placed sufliciently close together to prevent release of this latch until the primary jaws are either in or approaching their closing position, and, in fact, the said. latch 12 maybe so eonstrncted as to release the secondary jaws at any desn'ed, point mthe closing movementof the primary jaws;`

p To tacilitate the setting of the jaws, a recess lal is provided in the post 15, in 'which post one end of the primary jaws is journaled, and this recess is adapted to retain the free endet the latch 12 end therehy to hold i the movahle secondary jan' in retracted position While the primary jawsareheing set. Bitter' 'the letter are set; the latch 12 is removed froni the said recess and then hours against theprmary jaws.

Snpposing now that the treadle llhzs heen depressed suthclient ly to release the lateh 9 and thereh free the Jrimar 'aws 'under 'these conditions the springs 6 5, through the lei 'er 4 force the said prinary jaws togetheraDd the action of' the springs upon releases the novable secondary jew 3; which is carried over by the springs against the relatively fixed aw 6.7

lt is, theretore,-- apparent that although the actueting nechanism' for both sets or" jaws is thrown into 'operation by depression of the treadle 11 the rnnar aWs are either completelyfor partially closed before the 'ace tuat-ing mechanisn has takencftcct to actu ate the secondary gaws. Under these circumstances, there canbe no displacement of the animal from the trap by the secondary jaWs prior to the movement of the primar-y jaws to a sufiiciently closed position to grip the i 3 animal.

In addition to retardng the action of the secondary jaws it will be noted that. When the traps are in the open or set position, one prong ot' the forked latch rests under each i side of the jaws of the first trap, and thereby exerts a closing presente on the latter which materially aicls in: closing the first trap When it is released.

I claim: p 1. In an animal trap, the combinat ion with a pluralty of sets o l?" jaws, of ectnat ing'means for said jaws acommonrelease for rendering said actuating means'eftectivg e andmeans engaging both thejm's of one set tor retarding actuation of the other set of, following operation of said release.

2. In an animal, trap, the y comhination with a phn'ality oi' sets ot' jaws, of actuating means 'or said jaws a common release for;

;means i effective, and means including a control nemheg; en

rendering said actuating gaging both jaws ot one'set for causing the said release. y

3. Inen animal trap,

for said jaws, animel-actuating and element engaging hoth ot' said animal-released aws and constitnting a' means tor preventing action ot another otsaid sets ot ews until the hrst set has reached a ment; r

the comhination, 'With apluralty of sets otjaws, oi' actnating I means means tor releasing one of said setskot' jane,

'65 other set oi" jaws to' lag after operationot predetermined point in the closing more e. In an animal' trap, the combinetion with aset ot'movahle 1aws, ol: .means or ac A tuating said jaws, animal-actuated means tor releasng said ews, a second set otjaws, means tor actuatlng said second set and e retaining lateh for thesaid second .sethav- I ing elements adepted to engage both of the j jaws of the first set and operative' to retein the said second 'set inoperat-ve until the termined point in their closing action. e

5. In an animal trap, the comhinaton With a set oi: an's inovable toward each other from an open or horizontal position into a suhstantielly Vertical' closed position, means tor actuating saidjaws, animal-actuated means for releasing said jews, a secondary jaW, means for actnating 'said seo ondary jam and e latch compris'ng forks adepted to respectively nnderlie and jengege the jews of the primary set When the 'latter are in the open position and' to he retained therehy in an operative'position retaining the secondary jaw in retracted position, said lateh being adaptecl to he released by the closing action of the nrimary jaws and at a predetermined point in said action.

WALTER A. GIBBS,

jaws' of the first set have reached a prede- 

